Kate O’Connell is a TD for Dublin Bay South. She first ran for office in the 2014 Local Elections to Dublin City Council. She was the only woman elected for Fine Gael in Dublin City that term, taking the first seat in the country for the party. She successfully contested the General election in 2016 for Dublin Bay South, challenging many well established and high profile competitors for a seat. She has sat on the Special 10 year Vision for Health Committee, and is one of the authors of the Sláintecare Report. She has also sat on the Water Committee, and the Budgetary Oversight committee. She currently sits on the Oireachtas Health Committee and recently concluded her work on the specially formed Committee on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution. She is a qualified pharmacist with a Masters in business and primary care.